Air and power cable apparatus

ABSTRACT

An air-cooled manifold and power cable apparatus comprising a metal manifold block contained in a rubber insulating boot with one end of the boot open to receive power supply cables and an air supply line which are attached to one end of the block. A plurality of power cable and airhose assemblies are secured to the other end of the block within the boot and extend therefrom through holes in the boot in an end opposite the open end. Each assembly comprises a cable surrounded by an airhose with a metal connector holding a given end of the cable and airhose together and connecting same to the block in an electrical and fluid conducting manner and in a manner which permits same to be connected at any angle until fixedly secured. Passages in the block connect the air supply line to the metal connector. The other end of the assembly is secured by a similar metal connector which can be fixedly connected to a work device. The holes or areas around the holes in the boot are so constructed that the airhose and cable assemblies can be easily pulled out of the boot but are difficult to pull into the boot.

United States Patent Jenkins 51 Jan. 18, 1972 541 AIR AND POWER CABLE APPARATUS Henry H. Jenkins, 864 West Hacienda Drive, Corona, Calif. 91720 22] Filed: Sept. 8, 1969 211 Appl.No.: 855,959

[72] Inventor:

2,914,598 11/1959 Spillane ..339/112 X FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Primary Examiner-Richard E. Moore Altomey-Woodling, Krost, Granger and Rust [57] ABSTRACT An air-cooled manifold and power cable apparatus comprising a metal manifold block contained in a rubber insulating boot with one end of the boot open to receive power supply cables and an air supply line which are attached to one end of the block. A plurality of power cable and airhose assemblies are secured to the other end of the block within the boot and ex tend therefrom through holes in the boot in an end opposite the open end. Each assembly comprises a cable surrounded by an airhose with a metal connector holding a given end of the cable and airhose together and connecting same to the block in an electrical and fluid conducting manner and in a manner which permits same to be connected at any angle until fixedly secured. Passages in the block connect the air supply line to the metal connector. The other end of the assembly is secured by a similar metal connector which can be fixedly connected to a work device. The holes or areas around the holes in the boot are so constructed that the airhose and cable assemblies can be easily pulled out of the boot but are difficult to pull into V the boot.

43,646 4/1955 Germany ..339/l5 V H glirnsfiprawing Figures I l H l g 11 ig j? 27 57 55 4a PATENTED JAM 81972 SHEET 1 OF 3 7'4 w ll 'I' mH. M

H m L M TON PATENTEB JAN] 8 I972 SHEET 2 OF 3 INVENTOR.

HENR Y H. JENKINS BY 000W M ESM PATENTEUJAN: 81972 SHEET 3 OF 3 FIG. 3

INVENTOR.

HENR Y H. JENKINS FIG. 6

AIR AND POWER CABLE APPARATUS In the art of metal cutting and gouging it is necessary to conduct electrical power and air under pressure to a metal cutting and gouging gun which may be hand held or machine mounted. The cutting and gouging is effected by the establishment of an are between the work metal and an electrode, which causes the metal to become molten at which time it is blown away by the air under pressure.

As the demands for faster cutting and gouging increase, it is necessary to transmit more electrical power to the cutting and gouging apparatus and the problem of transmitting more electrical power involves the problem of power cable size and cooling of the same.

The prior art has utilized an electrical power cable surrounded by an airhose, however, the prior art has solved the problem of more electrical power, for example, by doubling the single cable size, however, this may provide a sufficient cross section of cable to theoretically transmit the required power, however, doubling the cable size does not double the surface area of the cable which is contacted by the air carried through the hose which surrounds the cable. Another problem which is involved in increasing the cable size and as a result increasing the diameter of the airhose which surrounds the cable is that as the cable size and airhose size is increased, it becomes increasingly more unwieldy for an operator of the device.

The present invention goes about solving the hereinabove enumerated problems by doubling the power-transmitting capabilities, by doubling the cables, and by doubling the cables, one also doubles the power-carrying capacity because the air in the airhose surrounding each of the cables exerts the same cooling effect on the cable thereby keeping its powercarrying capability at a maximum.

A problem is encountered when a plurality of power cables are utilized, however, and this comes about because the threaded connections which are utilized to secure the cables at respective ends to the cutting and gouging guns and at the other end to some sort of manifold, rarely ever assume the same angular position when a tight or secure fit is consummated. This results in a twisting of the cables, one with respect to the other, whereas it is desirable that the cables all extend in a parallel and consistent manner. The present invention goes about solving this particular problem because of a means of connecting the opposed ends of the cables to the cutting and gouging gun or apparatus and a manifold block respectively.

When manifold blocks are utilized it is quite important to electrically insulate the manifold blocks from exposure because of the high amperage which is carried, which is extremely dangerous to operators of the equipment. It is desirable that this insulation not fail at any particular point in time and so the present invention discloses a unique structure for the exiting of the cables from the rubber insulating boot whereby the cables can be easily pulled out of the boot in one direction but which are extremely difiicult to move in the other direction.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of this invention may be had by referring to the following description and claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,

in which:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view in section of a completely assembled and connected air and power cable apparatus in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the air and power cable apparatus before assembly;

FIG. 3 is a view taken generally along the line 3-3 of FIG; 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view showing the opening for exiting the airhose and power cable assembly from the insulating rubber boot;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged elevational view in section showing the exiting of the airhose and power cable assembly from the insulating rubber boot; and

FIG. 6 is a view quite similar to FIG. 5 but showing the effect of attempting to pull the airhose and power cable assembly back into the enclosure fonned by the insulating rubber boot.

Referring to the drawings, the air-cooled manifold and power cable apparatus shown completely assembled in FIG. I and before assembly in FIG. 2 has been indicated generally by the reference numeral 20. This apparatus is extremely useful in the metal cutting and gouging field and in this field is for the purpose of transmitting air under pressure and electrical power to a cutting and gouging gun such as that shown in my copending U.S. Pat. application, Ser. No. 648,763, filed June 26, 1967, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,483,348, issued Dec. 9, 1969, entitled ELECTRIC ARC TYPE CUTTING GUN. This apparatus includes a metal manifold block 22 which is insulated by means of an insulating rubber boot 58 which boot will be discussed in more detail hereinafter. Two power cables 25 enter the rubber boot 58 through a completely removed end thereof 62 and are connected to the manifold block by means of threaded connector members 24. In this manner electrical power is supplied from a source (not shown) to the manifold block 22. A first threaded air port 27 is provided in one end of the block and is for the purpose of attaching an air supply conduit 29 thereto to transmit a source of air under pressure (not shown) to the block 22. A plurality of threaded ports 31 are provided in the opposite end of the block and in this particular embodiment are two in number, however, it will be appreciated that the number of ports necessary are determined by the number of power cable and airhose assemblies which are to extend from the metal manifold block 22. Passageway means 33 extend between the port 27 and the ports 31 for the purpose of placing the port 27 and ports 31 in fluid communication with each other.

A power cable and airhose assembly are provided for connection to each of the plurality of ports .31 and since they are identical in construction, only one will be described herein and the same identifying reference numerals will be applied to each. Each assembly comprises a first metal connector member 35 which has a shouldered end 37 residing in a port 31. A threaded holding or nut member 39 surrounds the shouldered end and is adapted to be threadably secured to the port 31. Prior to threadably securing the nut member 39, the metal connector member is freely rotatable to any angular position. After the nut member 39 is secured in position, the

metal connector member 35 cannot be moved. The metal connector member 35 has a fluid passage 41 which extends axially therethrough. A power cable 43 is provided and one end of the power cable is fixedly connected to an end of the connector member 35 opposite the shouldered end by means of the crimp connection 44 shown in FIG. 1. Prior to the crimp connection 44 being provided, this end of the connector member assumes a generally tubular shape as seen in FIG. 2. An airhose 46 is provided and one end of the airhose is connected to the connector member 35 in the manner shown in FIG. 1 by means of a ferrule 47 which is crimped into position as shown.

The opposite ends of the power cable 43 and the airhose 46 are secured to a second metal connector 50 which has a threaded end 52 integrally formed thereon for threadable connection to a work device 54 such as the above-referred-to metal cutting and gouging gun. The metal connector 50 also has a fluid passage 51 extending axially therethrough and the connector 50 is secured to the cable by means of a crimped connection 53 (FIG. 1) the same as the crimped connection 44 andv the airhose is secured to the connector 50 by means of a ferrule 55.

The insulating rubber boot 58, previously described, is generally rectangular in shape and forms an enclosure 60 of the same general shape, which has the end 62 removed and as seen in FIG. 1 serves to electrically and physically insulate the metal manifold block 22 from exterior influences. Openings 64 (in this instance two in number) are provided through an end of the boot 58 opposite the removed end 62. FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 best show these openings which of a first diameter portion 67 which is approximately the same diameter as the airhose 46 which exits therethrough. This portion 67 extends from within the enclosure to a point reasonably close to the exterior surface of the boot. A second diameter portion 70 which is of a smaller diameter than airhose 46 connects the first diameter portion 67 to the exterior or the rubber boot. The position of the material 76 of the boot surrounding the second diameter portion 70 with the hose extending therethrough is best shown in FIG. 5 and it will be noted that if a pull is exerted in the direction of the arrow 72 that the hose would easily travel through the second diameter portion 70 because the material 76 surrounding the second diameter portion has some place to expand to. FIG. 6 demonstrates what happens if a pull is exerted in the direction of arrow 74 which is generally in the direction of pushing hose 46 into the enclosure which would tend to expose the manifold block 22 out the removed end 62 of the boot. It will be seen that the material 76 surrounding the second diameter portion tends to pile up or engage the material defining the first diameter portion 67 and, hence, has no place to expand to and as a result the airhose is pulled in this direction only with a great deal of difficulty.

The entire apparatus is preferably assembled by first attaching the metal connectors 50 to the cables 43 and hoses 46 and then to the work device 54 (FIG. 1) such as a metal cutting and gouging gun. The opposite ends of the cables 43 and airhoses 46 are pushed through the openings 64 in the rubber boot 58, and they are inserted through far enough to bring them out the removed end 62 of the boot so that the metal connector members 35 can be attached to the power cables and airhoses and also so that the connector members 35 can be threadably connected to ports 31. The power cables 25 are connected and the air supply conduit 29 is threadably con nected to port 27. The rubberboot 58 is then pulled in a direction so as to locate the block 22 within the enclosure 60 and the construction of the openings 64 prevents the air hoses from sliding relative thereto to accidentally expose the metal manifold block 22.

As a result of this construction all of the advantages of the present invention are realized while obviating the difficulties which have been inherent in the prior art devices and which have been discussed hereinabove. I

Although this invention has been described in its preferred fonn with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrange ment of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

I. An air-cooled manifold and power cable apparatus for use in metal cutting and gouging including in combination a metal manifold block, first and second threaded members extending into opposed sides of said block for physically and electrically connecting electric power source cables thereto, a first threaded port in one end of said block for attaching an air supply thereto, a plurality of threaded ports in the opposite end of said block, passageway means in said block connecting said first threaded port to said plurality of threaded ports, a power cable and airhose assembly attached at a first end to each of said plurality of threaded ports, each said assembly comprising; a first metal connector member with a shouldered end residing in one of said plurality of threaded ports and befmg rotatable therein but fixedly held in position by a separate threaded holding member which engages said shouldered end and is secured to the threads in one of said plurality of threaded ports, said first metal connector member having a fluid passage extending axially therethrough, a power cable, means fixedly connecting one end of said power cable to another end of the first metal connector member opposite said shouldered end, an airhose surrounding said power cable, means fixedly connecting one end of said airhose to said first metal connector member in fluid conducting relationship with said passage therein, a second metal connector member having a threaded end for threadable connection to a work device, said second metal connector member having a fluid passage extending axially therethrough, means fixedly connecting the other end of said power cable to an end of said second metal connector member opposite the threaded end, means fixedly connecting the other end of said airhose to said second metal connector member in fluid-conducting relationship with said passage therein. A i

2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein an insulating rubber boot is provided and encloses in an insulating manner said metalmanifold block, said boot comprising a generally rectangular-shaped enclosure which has one end completely removed for the entrance of the electric power source cables, wall means defining a plurality of openings through the other end of the enclosurewith the openings being equal in number to the number of airhoses in said assembly, said wall means of each opening comprising a first diameter portion extending from the enclosure toward the outside of the boot which is on the order of the diameter of the airhose which extends therethrough and which terminates short of the outside Sillface of the boot and a second diameter porn'on which is smaller than the diameter of the airhose extending from the termination of the first diameter portion to the outside surface of the boot whereby the airhose which resides in said opening is easily pulled in the direction out of the enclosure because the material surrounding the second diameter portion may expand and is not easily pulled in the opposite direction because the material surrounding the second diameter portion has no place to expand.

3. An air-cooled manifold and power cable apparatus including in combination a metal manifold block, means for physically and electrically connecting electric power source cable means to said manifold block, a port in one end of said block for attaching an air supply thereto, a plurality of threaded ports in the opposite end of said block, passageway means in said block connecting said port to said plurality of threaded ports, a power cable and airhose assembly attached at a first end to each of said plurality of threaded ports, each said assembly comprising; a first metal connector member with an end residing in one of said plurality of threaded ports and being rotatable therein but fixedly held in position by a separate threaded holding member which engages said end and is secured to the threads in one of said plurality of threaded ports, said first metal connector member having a fluid passage extending therethrough, a power cable, means fixedly connecting one end of said power cable to another end of the first metal connector member opposite said first-mentioned end, an airhose surrounding said power cable, means fixedly connecting one end of said airhose to said first metal connector member in fluid-conducting relationship with said passage therein, a second metal connector member having a threaded end for threadable connection to work device, said second metal connector member having a fluid passage extending therethrough, means fixedly connecting the other end of said power cable to an end of said second metal connector member opposite the threaded end, means fixedly connecting the other end of said airhose to said second metal connector member in fluid-conducting relationship with said passage therein.

4. An assembly as claimed in claim 3, therein an insulating rubber boot is provided and encloses in an insulating manner said metal manifold block, said boot comprising an enclosure which has one end completely removed for the entrance of the electric power source cable means, wall means defining a plurality of openings through the other end of the enclosure with the openings being equal in number to the number of airhoses in said assembly, said wall means of each opening comprising a first diameter portion extending from the enclosure toward the outside of the boot which is on the order of the diameter of the airhose which extends therethrough and which tenninates short of the outside surface of the boot and a second diameter portion which is smaller than the diameter of the airhose extending from the termination of the first diameter portion to the outside surface of the boot whereby the airhose which resides in said opening is easily pulled in the direction out of the enclosure because the material surrounding the second diameter portion opening may expand and is not easily pulled 5 in the opposite direction because the material surrounding the second diameter portion has limited space to expand to.

8 i i t l 

1. An air-cooled manifold and power cable apparatus for use in metal cutting and gouging including in combination a metal manifold block, first and second threaded members extending into opposed sides of said block for physically and electrically connecting electric power source cables thereto, a first threaded port in one end of said block for attaching an air supply thereto, a plurality of threaded ports in the opposite end of said block, passageway means in said block connecting said first threaded port to said plurality of threaded ports, a power cable and airhose assembly attached at a first end to each of said plurality of threaded ports, each said assembly comprising; a first metal connector member with a shouldered end residing in one of said plurality of threaded ports and being rotatable therein but fixedly held in position by a separate threaded holding member which engages said shouldered end and is secured to the threads in one of said plurality of threaded ports, said first metal connector member having a fluid passage extending axially therethrough, a power cable, means fixedly connecting one end of said power cable to another end of the first metal connector member opposite said shouldered end, an airhose surrounding said power cable, means fixedly connecting one end of said airhose to said first metal connector member in fluid conducting relationship with said passage therein, a second metal connector member having a threaded end for threadable connection to a work device, said second metal connector member having a fluid passage extending axially therethrough, means fixedly connecting the other end of said power cable to an end of said second metal connector member opposite the threaded end, means fixedly connecting the other end of said airhose to said second metal connector member in fluid-conducting relationship with said passage therein. A
 2. An assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein an insulating rubber boot is provided and encloses in an insulating manner said metal manifold block, said boot comprising a generally rectangular-shaped enclosure which has one end completely removed for the entrance of the electric power source cables, wall means defining a plurality of openings through the other end of the enclosure with the openings being equal in number to the number of airhoses in said assembly, said wall means of each opening comprising a first diameter portion extending from the enclosure toward the outside of the boot which is on the order of the diameter of the airhose which extends therethrough and which terminates short of the outside surface of the boot and a second diameter portion which is smaller than the diameter of the airhose extending from the termination of the first diameter portion to the outside surface of the boot whereby the airhose which resides in said opening is easily pulled in the direction out of the enclosure because the material surrounding the second diameter portion may expand and is not easily pulled in the opposite direction because the material surrounding the second diameter portion has no place to expand.
 3. An air-cooled manifold and power cable apparatus including in combination a metal manifold block, means for physically and electrically connecting electric power source cable means to said manifold block, a port in one end of said block for attaching an air supply thereto, a plurality of threaded ports in the opposite end of said block, passageway means in said block connecting said port to said plurality of threaded ports, a power cable and airhose assembly attached at a first end to each of said plurality of threaded ports, each said assembly comprising; a first metal connector member with an end residing in one of said plurality of threaded ports and being rotatable therein but fixedly held in position by a separate threaded holding member which engages said end and is secured to the threads in one of said plurality of threaded ports, said first metal connector member having a fluid passage extending therethrough, a power cable, means fixedly connecting one end of said power cable to another end of the first metal connector member opposite said first-mentioned end, an airhose surrounding said power cable, means fixedly connecting one end of said airhose to said first metal connector member in fluid-conducting relationship with said passage therein, a second metal connector member having a threaded end for threadable connection to work device, said second metal connector member having a fluid passage extending therethrough, means fixedly connecting the other end of said power cable to an end of said second metal connector member opposite the threaded end, means fixedly connecting the other end of said airhose to said second metal connector member in fluid-conducting relationship with said passage therein.
 4. An assembly as claimed in claim 3, therein an insulating rubber boot is provided and encloses in an insulating manner said metal manifold block, said boot comprising an enclosure which has one end completely removed for the entrance of the electric power source cable means, wall means defining a plurality of openings through the other end of the enclosure with the openings being equal in number to the number of airhoses in said assembly, said wall means of each opening comprising a first diameter portion extending from the enclosure toward the outside of the boot which is on the order of the diameter of the airhose which extends therethrough and which terminates short of the outside surface of the boot and a second diameter portion which is smaller than the diameter of the airhose extending from the termination of the first diameter portion to the outside surface of the boot whereby the airhose which resides in said opening is easily pulled in the direction out of the enclosure because the material surrounding the second diameter portion opening may expand and is not easily pulled in the opposite direction because the material surrounding the second diameter portion has limited space to expand to. 